Safety winged needle medical devices

Claim 2

A medical device for assembly with a hollow needle, comprising: a) an inner tube member having a passageway therethrough, a front end through which the hollow needle can extend, a rear end with said passageway extending therethrough; and an outer surface having a circumferential first groove, a shoulder forwardly adjacent said first groove and a first inner tube ramp rearwardly adjacent said first groove, a first end of said first inner tube ramp being located at said first groove and constituting a first abutment surface, said first inner tube ramp decreasing in circumference as it extends towards said rear end, wherein said shoulder subscribes a larger cross-section area through said inner tube member than said first inner tube ramp, and said shoulder terminates at its front end in a second abutment surface; and b) a resiliently flexible hollow outer shield member having an inner surface, most of said inner surface subscribing a slightly larger cross-section than most of said outer surface of said inner tube member, a front end having a substantially unrestricted opening therein for permitting said inner tube member to be loaded therethrough during assembly of said medical device, at least one winged member attached to and flexible extending outwardly from said shield member, a rear end having an opening therein; first and second ramps located towards said rear end of said outer shield member, extending inwardly from said inner surface of said outer shield member, and subscribing smaller cross-sectional areas as they extend toward said rear end, said first ramp being forward of said second ramp and terminating in a third abutment surface, said second ramp terminating in a protrusion, said first range at said third abutment surface subscribing a substantially larger diameter than said second ramp at said protrusion, wherein the cross-sectional area subscribed by said protrusion of said outer shield member is substantially smaller than the circumference of said shoulder of said inner tube member, and wherein in a first locking position said outer shield member is in locking engagement with said inner tube member, said third abutment surface is forward of said second abutment surface, said shoulder engages said inner surface of said outer shield member between said first and second ramps, and said first abutment surface is rearward of said rear end of said shield member such that attempted movement of said outer shield member backward relative to said inner tube member is stopped by abutment of said second and third abutment surfaces and by the abutment of said first abutment surface and the rear end of said outer shield member, and attempted movement of said shield member forward relative to said inner tube member is stopped by the engagement of said shoulder and said second ramp.

Claim 3

A medical device according to claim 1, wherein: said first ramp of said outer shield member and said shoulder of said inner tube member are sized such that said first ramp engages but slides over said shoulder when differential force is applied between said outer shield member and said inner tube member.

Claim 4

A medical device according to claim 2, wherein: said protrusion of said outer shield member and said shoulder of said inner tube member are sized such that said protrusion cannot slide over said shoulder when differential force is applied between said outer shield member and said inner tube member by hand.

Claim 5

A medical device according to claim 3, wherein: said outer surface of said inner tube member further includes a circumferential second groove rearward of said circumferential first groove.

Claim 6

A medical device according to claim 4, wherein: said second groove is located substantially toward the rear end of said inner tube member, and said second groove terminates at its front end in a second inner tube ramp increasing in circumference as it extends towards the front end of said inner tube, and terminating at its rear end in a fourth abutment surface, such that in a retracted position, said protrusion disengageably engages said second groove.

Claim 7

A medical device according to claim 5, wherein: said second inner tube ramp terminates at a front end at a third inner tube ramp which decreases in circumference as it extends towards the front end of said inner tube, said third inner tube ramp terminating in a valley which is of reduced circumference relative to and which lies between said first and third inner tube ramps.

Claim 8

A medical device according to claim 5, wherein: in said retracted position, said second ramp of said outer shield member engages said second inner tube ramp, and said fourth abutment surface extends beyond the rear end opening of said outer shield member so a to prevent accidental disengagement of said protrusion from said second groove.

Claim 9

A medical device according to claim 5, further comprising: c) said hollow needle extending throughout said passageway and terminating on one end forward of said front end of said inner tube member and on the other end in the vicinity of or beyond said rear end of said inner tube member, wherein said inner tube member is molded around said hollow needle.

Claim 10

A medical device according to claim 1, wherein: said outer surface of said inner tube member further includes a circumferential second groove rearward of said circumferential first groove.

Claim 11

A medical device according to claim 9, wherein: said second groove is located substantially toward the rear end of said inner tube member, and said second groove terminates at its front end in a second inner tube ramp increasing in circumference as it extends towards the front end of said inner tube, and terminating at its rear end in a fourth abutment surface, such that in a retracted position, said protrusion disengageably engages said second groove.

Claim 12

A medical device according to claim 10, wherein: said second inner tube ramp terminates at its front end at a third inner tube ramp which decreases in circumference as it extends towards the front end of said inner tube member, said third inner tube ramp terminating in a valley which is of reduced circumference relative to and which lies between said first and third inner tube ramps.

Claim 13

A medical device according to claim 10, wherein: in said retracted position, said second ramp of said outer shield member engages said second inner tube ramp, and said fourth abutment surface extends beyond the rear end opening of said outer shield member so as to prevent accidental disengagement of said protrusion from said second groove.

Claim 14

A medical device according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of said inner tube member and said outer shield member is substantially non-cylindrical in shape, wherein the relative shapes of said inner tube member and outer shield member prevents rotation of said inner tube member relative to said outer shield member when said inner tube member and said outer shield member are engaged.

Claim 15

A medical device according to claim 13, wherein: said outer shield member includes an outer surface with a substantially flat surface for placement adjacent the skin of a patient.

Claim 16

A medical device according to claim 14 wherein: the cross-section through most of said inner surface of said outer shield member is a shape chosen from one of a truncated circle and a truncated oval.

Claim 17

A medical device according to claim 15, wherein: the cross-section through said outer surface of said inner tube member is a shape chosen from one of a truncated circle and a truncated oval.

Claim 18

A medical device according to claim 13, wherein: said outer shield member includes a plurality of finger grip ribs extending outwardly from said outer surface of said outer shield member.

Claim 19

A medical device according to claim 1, wherein: said rear end of said inner tube member includes means for attaching at least one of a fluid conduit means and a fluid container means thereto.

Claim 20

A medical device according to claim 1, further comprising: c) said hollow needle extending throughout said passageway and terminating on one end forward of said front end of said inner tube member and on the other end in the vicinity of or beyond said rear end of said inner tube member, wherein said inner tube member is molded around said hollow needle.

Claim 21

A medical device for assembly with a hollow needle, comprising: a) an inner tube member having a passageway therethrough, a front end through which the hollow needle can extend, a rear end through which said passageway extends, and an outer surface with first locking means; and b) a resiliently flexible hollow outer winged shield member having a front end having a substantially unrestricted opening therein for permitting said inner tube member to be loaded therethrough during assembly of said medical device, at least one winged member attached to and flexibly extending outwardly from said shield member, a rear end having an opening therein, and an inner surface with second locking means, wherein said first locking means and second locking means comprise means for engaging said inner tube member and said outer shield member in a locked shielding position with said outer shield member surrounding and shielding the hollow needle such that said outer shield member cannot be substantially moved forward or backward relative to said inner tube member so as to reexpose the hollow needle through use of manual force on said inner tube member and said outer shield member.

Claim 22

A medical device for assembly with a hollow needle, comprising: a) an inner tube member having a passageway therethrough, a front end through which the hollow needle can extend, a rear end through which said passageway extends, and an outer surface with first locking means; and b) a resiliently flexible hollow outer winged shield member having a front end having a substantially unrestricted opening therein for permitting said inner tube member to be loaded therethrough during assembly of said medical device, at least one winged member attached to and flexibly extending outwardly from said shield member, a rear end having an opening therein, and an inner surface with second locking means, wherein said first locking means and second locking means comprise means for engaging said inner tube member and said outer shield member in a locked shielding position with said outer shield member surrounding and shielding the hollow needle such that said outer shield member cannot be substantially moved forward or backward relative to said inner tube member so as to reexpose the hollow needle through use of manual force on said inner tube member and said outer shield member.

Claim 23

A medical device according to claim 20, wherein: said outer surface of said inner tube member said includes second engaging means for disengageably engaging said second locking means such that when said outer shield member is engaged with said inner tube member in a retracted position the hollow needle is exposed and such that an application of a differential axial force on said outer shield member relative to said inner tube member will cause said second engaging means and said second locking means to disengage.

Claim 24

A medical device according to claim 21 wherein: said first locking means is comprised of a circumferential first groove, a shoulder forwardly adjacent said first groove, and a first inner tube ramp rearwardly adjacent said first groove, a first end of said first inner tube ramp being located at said first groove and constituting a first abutment surface, said first inner tube ramp decreasing in circumference as it extends towards said rear end of said inner tube member, wherein said shoulder subscribes a larger cross-section area through said inner tube member than said first inner tube ramp, and said shoulder terminates at its front end in a second abutment surface, said second locking means is comprised of a protrusion and first and second ramps located towards said rear end of said outer shield member, said first and second ramps extending inwardly from said inner surface of said outer shield member, and subscribing smaller cross-sectional areas as they extend toward said rear end, said first ramp being forward of said second ramp and terminating in a third abutment surface, said second ramp terminating in said protrusion, said first ramp at said third abutment surface subscribing a substantially larger diameter than said second ramp at said protrusion, and said second engaging means is comprised of a second inner tube ramp, a fourth abutment surface, and a circumferential second groove, said circumferential second groove rearward of said circumferential first groove and located substantially toward the rear end of said inner tube member and terminating at its front end in said second inner tube ramp, said second inner tube ramp increasing in circumference as it extends towards the front end of said inner tube, and terminating at its rear end in said fourth abutment surface.

Claim 25

A medical device according to claim 22, wherein: said second inner tube ramp terminates at its front end at a third inner tube ramp which decreases in circumference as it extends towards the front end of said inner tube, said third inner tube ramp terminating in a valley which is of reduced circumference relative to and which lies between said first and third inner tube ramps, said outer shield member protrusion being slidable over said valley from said retracted position in which said engaging means engages said first locking means to said shielding position in which said outer shield member is in locking engagement with said inner tube member such that said shoulder engages said inner surface of said outer shield member between said first and second ramps, and said first abutment surface is rearward of said rear end of said shield member such that attempted movement of said outer shield member backward relative to said inner tube member is stopped by abutment of said second and third abutment surfaces, and by the abutment of said first abutment surface and the rear end of said outer shield member, and attempted movement of said shield member forward relative to said inner tube member is stopped by the engagement of said shoulder and said second ramp.

Claim 26

A medical device according to claim 20, further comprising: c) said hollow needle extending throughout said passageway and terminating on one end forward of said front end of said inner tube member and on the other end in the vicinity of or beyond said rear end of said inner tube member, wherein said inner tube member is molded around and to said hollow needle.

Claim 27

A medical device for assembly with a hollow needle, comprising: a) an inner tube member having a passageway therethrough, a front end through which the hollow needle can extend, a rear end through which said passageway extends, and a rear end through which said passageway extends, and an outer surface having a circumferential first groove, a shoulder forwardly adjacent said first groove and a first inner tube ramp rearwardly adjacent said first groove, a first end of said first inner tube ramp being located at said first groove and constituting a first abutment surface, said first inner tube ramp decreasing in circumference as it extends towards said rear end, wherein said shoulder subscribes a larger cross-section area through said inner tube member than said first inner tube ramp, and said shoulder terminates at its front end in a second abutment surface; and b) a resiliently flexible hollow outer shield member having an inner surface, most of said inner surface subscribing a slightly larger cross-section than most of said outer surface of said inner tube member, a front end having a substantially unrestricted opening therein for permitting said inner tube member to be loaded therethrough during assembly of said medical device, at least one winged member attached to and flexibly extending outwardly from said shield member, a rear end having an opening therein, a first protrusion and a first shield member ramp located towards said rear end of said outer shield member and extending inwardly from said inner surface of said outer shield member, said first shield member ramp subscribing smaller cross-sectional areas as it extends toward said rear end, said first protrusion being forward of said first shield member ramp and terminating in a third abutment surface, said first shield member ramp terminating in a second protrusion, said first protrusion at said third abutment surface subscribing a substantially larger diameter than said second ramp at said second protrusion, wherein the cross-sectional area subscribed by said second protrusion of said outer shield member is substantially smaller than the circumference of said shoulder of said inner tube member, and wherein in a first locking position, said outer shield member is in locking engagement with said inner tube member, said third abutment surface is forward of said second abutment surface, said shoulder engages said inner surface of said outer shield member between said first protrusion and said first shield member ramp, and said first abutment surface is rearward of said rear end of said shield member such that attempted movement of said outer shield member backward relative to said inner tube member is stopped by abutment of said second and third abutment surfaces, and by the abutment of said first abutment surface and the rear end of said outer shield member, and attempted movement of said shield member forward relative to said inner tube member is stopped by the engagement of said shoulder and said second ramp.

Claim 28

A medical device for assembly with a hollow needle, comprising: a) an inner tube member having a passageway therethrough, a front end through which the hollow needle can extend, a rear end through which said passageway extends, and a rear end through which said passageway extends, and an outer surface having a circumferential first groove, a shoulder forwardly adjacent said first groove and a first inner tube ramp rearwardly adjacent said first groove, a first end of said first inner tube ramp being located at said first groove and constituting a first abutment surface, said first inner tube ramp decreasing in circumference as it extends towards said rear end, wherein said shoulder subscribes a larger cross-section area through said inner tube member than said first inner tube ramp, and said shoulder terminates at its front end in a second abutment surface; and b) a resiliently flexible hollow outer shield member having an inner surface, most of said inner surface subscribing a slightly larger cross-section than most of said outer surface of said inner tube member, a front end having a substantially unrestricted opening therein for permitting said inner tube member to be loaded therethrough during assembly of said medical device, at least one winged member attached to and flexibly extending outwardly from said shield member, a rear end having an opening therein, a first protrusion and a first shield member ramp located towards said rear end of said outer shield member and extending inwardly from said inner surface of said outer shield member, said first shield member ramp subscribing smaller cross-sectional areas as it extends toward said rear end, said first protrusion being forward of said first shield member ramp and terminating in a third abutment surface, said first shield member ramp terminating in a second protrusion, said first protrusion at said third abutment surface subscribing a substantially larger diameter than said second ramp at said second protrusion, wherein the cross-sectional area subscribed by said second protrusion of said outer shield member is substantially smaller than the circumference of said shoulder of said inner tube member, and wherein in a first locking position, said outer shield member is in locking engagement with said inner tube member, said third abutment surface is forward of said second abutment surface, said shoulder engages said inner surface of said outer shield member between said first protrusion and said first shield member ramp, and said first abutment surface is rearward of said rear end of said shield member such that attempted movement of said outer shield member backward relative to said inner tube member is stopped by abutment of said second and third abutment surfaces, and by the abutment of said first abutment surface and the rear end of said outer shield member, and attempted movement of said shield member forward relative to said inner tube member is stopped by the engagement of said shoulder and said second ramp.

Claim 29

A medical device according to claim 25, wherein said first protrusion of said outer shield member and said shoulder of said inner tube member are sized and shaped such that said first protrusion engages but slides over said shoulder when differential force is applied between said outer shield member and said inner tube member, and said second protrusion of said outer shield member and said shoulder of said inner tube member are sized such that said second protrusion cannot slide over said shoulder when differential force is applied between said outer shield member and said inner tube member by hand.

Claim 30

A medical device according to claim 26, wherein: said outer surface of said inner tube member further includes a circumferential second groove rearward of said circumferential first groove and located substantially toward the rear end of said inner tube member, and said second groove terminates at its front end in a second inner tube ramp increasing in circumference as it extends towards the front end of said inner tube, and terminating at its rear end in a fourth abutment surface, such that in a retracted position, said second protrusion disengageably engages said second groove.

Claim 31

A medical device according to claim 27, wherein: said second inner tube ramp terminates at a front end at a third inner tube ramp which decreases in circumference as it extends towards the front end of said inner tube, said third inner tube ramp terminating in a valley which is of reduced circumference relative to and which lies between said first and third inner tube ramps, and in said retracted position, said first shield member ramp engages said second inner tube ramp, and said fourth abutment surface extends beyond the rear end opening of said outer shield member so as to prevent accidental disengagement of said second protrusion from said second groove.

Claim 32

A medical device according to claim 28, further comprising: c) said hollow needle extending throughout said passageway and terminating on one end forward of said front end of said inner tube member and on the other end in the vicinity of or rearward of said rear end of said inner tube member, wherein said inner tube member is molded around said hollow needle.

Claim 33

A medical device according to claim 25, wherein: said rear end of said inner tube member includes means for attaching at least one of a fluid conduit means and a fluid container means thereto.